Teenager Likely Baited Police Into Pursuit That Killed Him

Adam Huening

The crash that claimed the life of Matthew S.T. Henderson, 19, during a Feb. 24 police pursuit may have been of his own doing, according to the North Vernon Police Department.

North Vernon Police Chief James Webster said the department’s investigation into the case led them to believe that Henderson made a false 911 call in the hopes of baiting police into chasing him up State Road 3 from North Vernon into Decatur County.

Webster noted Henderson had never engaged in this kind of activity and was not a known troublemaker.

“In small communities, a lot of times you know the suspects, you’ve dealt with them before,” Webster said. “I had no idea who this kid was.”

While Webster said he believes Henderson wanted to be involved in a pursuit, the motive has been elusive.

“That’s what’s thrown us, why would someone do this? I don’t know if he thought it would be neat to do this and didn’t expect to be involved in a crash or he was looking to end it all in a crash with a police car. Maybe he thought he was young and wouldn’t get hurt,” Webster said.

According to Decatur County Coroner Doug Banks, Henderson did not have alcohol in his bloodstream, but did test positive for meth.

“My report shows that he had methamphetamines in his bloodstream at the time of his death,” Banks said.

On the morning of his death, Henderson stole a red 2004 Pontiac Sunfire in North Vernon just after dawn on Feb. 24, according to police reports. Webster noted Henderson then made his way to the Jennings County Fairgrounds where he made a fictitious 911 call reporting an intoxicated driver traveling at high speeds on State Road 3 in North Vernon. When the dispatcher asked for his name, he hung up.

“He was identified by his voice as the caller,” Webster said.

When two officers arrived at the fairgrounds, Henderson took off down State Road 3. Webster said there the teenager waited.

“He parked sideways and waited for police to catch up,” Webster said.

Henderson then bolted down State Road 3, never leaving the highway Webster noted, with police in pursuit. The teenager reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. North Vernon Police radioed Decatur County around 7:12 a.m. to let the Sheriff’s Department know he was coming.

Decatur County Sheriff Daryl Templeton said officers from North Vernon and Jennings County maintained a distance between themselves and the speeding vehicle with lights and sirens blaring to keep motorists out of Henderson’s path.

“The others were a good piece behind him and weren’t trying to catch him, just keep up with him,” Templeton said.

In the meantime, Sheriff’s Deputies Mike Woodhull and Josh Bushhorn were in route to intercept. According to other reports, stop sticks were deployed, but Templeton noted this was not the case. Woodhull and Bushhorn planned to deploy them at the State Road 3 and 46 intersection but never made it. Henderson apparently crossed through the intersection and blazed down the northbound lane heading south into oncoming traffic. When he saw the deputies’ cars coming toward them, he did not divert his direction of travel.

“I think he was probably trying to hit a police car,” Templeton said. “He could have hit anyone along the way, but he didn’t try to do it until he got to us.”

Deputy Woodhull swerved to miss Henderson and radioed Bushhorn, who almost left the road to avoid a collision. Henderson crashed into the next available car, Templeton said, a blue 2005 Chevy Malibu driven by Jaclyn Miller of Greensburg. Templeton noted she likely slowed down and then braked when she knew she could not avoid the collision, which likely saved her from serious injury. Henderson’s vehicle collided with hers at an estimated 70 to 80 mph, he noted. He was killed instantly due to blunt force trauma to the neck and chest, according to Banks.

“After he missed us both, then he took the next one he could hit,” Templeton said.

While the investigation is nearing completion, Webster said he had no idea if Henderson was out for kicks or his mind was teetering on suicide. Webster’s conclusion was Henderson just wanted to hit a police car.

Templeton noted the whole situation is baffling and alarming. He is thankful his officers escaped injury and the civilian driver suffered only minor injuries.

“It’s scary. When (the deputies) came up on him, they had no idea what frame of mind he was in. It was fortunate it ended like it did,” Templeton said. “I just don’t know why people would want to do something like this.”

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